Ten Incubation Cells to Look Out for in India

Startup Incubation holds significant importance in a country like India where entrepreneurs by the score are launching new setups and changing the game of business by minutes. For the uninitiated, business incubation programs or centers provide support functions, mentorship and resources to individual entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial setups. This enables them to get all the expert advice and technical guidance that they need to survive for a longer time, unlike most other entrepreneurial ventures that fizzle out within a few months of their launch. Incubation and innovation cells all over the country to facilitate the budding entrepreneurs in their quest to kick off their business and units. They aim at providing reliable and necessary information to their patrons. Here is a list of the top ten Incubation cells in India:

1) Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), IIM Ahmadabad

A business school housed at the top B school India tops our list. Having started incubation initiatives since 2007, CIIE has incubated more than 50 companies, only a handful of which were owned by IIM students. CIIE has been incubating businesses in the areas of internet and mobile technology, clean technology, social sector startups and healthcare. From mentoring clinics to art exhibitions from global warming initiatives to social enterprise funds, CIIE has evolved as a prestigious business incubation centre in India.

2) Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Mumbai

If you’ve heard of Webaroo, Bhugol GIS and SMSGupshup.com, then you must know that these ventures came into existence because they were nurtured and incubated by SINE – the tech incubator housed at IIT Bombay. ThinkLABS Technosolutions, an educational robotics venture, Myzus Technologies and Elnfinitus are amongst some of the famous businesses that SINE has incubated. These startups have been successful in raising venture capital investment after incubation of upto Rs. 3 crore from the market.

Established in 2004, SINE can incubate an average of 15 companies at a time and has an infrastructure spread over 10,000 sq.ft. They still haven’t opened up to external business incubation because ideas from within IIT just don’t stop flowing!

3) Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, IIM Calcutta

Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) is one of the centers of excellence established by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta to achieve greater understanding of an effective mechanism for promotion of professional management practices in Indian organizations, as well as to stimulate the development of these organizations for societal benefit.  This incubation cells provide a plethora of facilities like Entrepreneurial Research and Case Development, Venture Creation, events and an endeavor to provide management and consultancy sessions for women entrepreneurs.

4) Abhiyan- IIM Lucknow 

Born in 1999, Abhiyan has developed a good network of valuable mentors around the world, including successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, & professionals. Recently Abhiyan launched a unique venture - the genesis of a center for social entrepreneurship in the campus.  The objectives for the forum mainly are to create awareness, provide internship opportunities, Fellowship/Scholarships for students or social entrepreneurs and incubation facilities for social entrepreneurs through education institutions.

5) SIDBI Innovation and Incubation Center, IIT Kanpur

IIT Kanpur has set up the SIDBI Innovation & Incubation Centre (SIIC) in collaboration with Small Industries development Bank of India (SIDBI) to foster innovation, research, and entrepreneurial activities in technology-based areas. SIIC provides a platform to Start-ups prospective entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs to convert their innovative ideas into commercially viable products. They provide facilities like seed money, In-campus accommodation, Mentoring and business plan development

6) Technopark Technology Business Incubator (T-TBI), Kerala

Established in 2006 with the support of the Government of Kerala, T-TBI offers fully furnished working spaces spread over 15,000 sq.ft, expert opinions and guidance from the industry, marketing and legal management consultancy and financial assistance. T-TBI has till date successfully incubated about 60 companies and has had a 92 percent success rate.

7) E-cell IIM Kozikhode

IMK strives to groom business leaders who are an asset to the society and are able to strike proper balance between business demands and social concerns. It houses an extensive series of events, seminars and mentoring sessions to help in inculcating pioneer entrepreneurs of the country.

8) Indian Angel Network (IAN)

IAN in an equity based business incubator center that gives priority to ventures in the areas of healthcare, gaming and animation cloud computing, retail, mobile VAS, media and entertainment, alternative energy, education and clean technology.It has been established with the support of the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board and the Department of Science & Technology of the Government of India.

In addition to the regular functions of a business incubator, the IAN incubator helps startups to get seed funding and pre angel funding through its tie-up with Small Industries Development Bank of India

9) E-cell IIT Delhi

Another E-cell in Indian Institute of Technology caters to the high demand of incubation cell in the capital. E-cell at IIT-D hosts a series of E-summit and seminar which provide invaluable information about startups. Having several associations with other incubation cells like Indian Angel Network and others, they organize innumerable business plan competitions and events.

10) E-cell- Faculty of Management Studies (FMS)

Entrepreneurship Cell at FMS is an endeavor to create opportunities for people across India in realizing their dream of starting up. It emphasizes on having a concrete idea combined with passion and guidance to achieve the goal. It has a comprehensive mentorship programme and events to host.

- Madalsa Singh